Rheumatology Advance Access published March 1, 2009 Rheumatology 2009; 1 of 7

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kep022

Adalimumab is effective and well tolerated in treating patients with ankylosing spondylitis who have advanced spinal fusion Martin Rudwaleit1, Ignazio Olivieri2, Kyriaki A. Boki3, Eduard N. Griep4, Pentti Ja¨rvinen5, Robert L. Wong6, Martina Kron7, Sonja Kary7 and Hartmut Kupper7 Objectives. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in treating patients with AS and advanced structural damage. Methods. Patients with active AS [Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) 54] received 40 mg of adalimumab every other week plus their standard anti-rheumatic therapies in this 12-week, open-label study. Investigators documented the presence or absence of advanced ankylosis based on previous radiographs. Stages IV (from 50 to